Tetanus-Toxoid Emergency Boosters

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Measurement of tetanus antibody titers in 143 pediatric patients receiving routine and emergency immunization according to current practice showed that none who had received four or more injections failed to maintain the accepted protective level of 0.01 AU per milliliter for any measured interval. Analysis of the data indicated that the interval of protection after four or more injections is greater than 12 years from the last injection, with a confidence level of 99.9 per cent. When there is a valid history of the routine schedule of immunization outlined, special tetanus boosters on admission to camps, schools and colleges and emergency injections at times of injury should be abandoned, to minimize toxoid reactions. The risk of contracting tetanus if these recommendations are followed is calculated to be so remote as to approximate zero.